Set | Mean of set in English Dictionary

/ˈsɛt/

• Verb
• to put (something) in a place or position
1. Set your books (down) on the table.
2. We need to set some extra chairs around the table.
3. He set the ladder against the wall and walked away.
4. I remember setting my bag right here.
• to put (something) into the surface of something
1. They set the bricks along the walkway.
2. The posts are set firmly in the ground.
3. The tiles are set into the wall.
• to attach (something, such as a jewel) to a piece of jewelry or other decoration
1. The jeweler can set the stone several different ways.
2. Her wedding ring is set [=is inlaid] with seven diamonds.
3. a diamond set in a simple gold band

• to cause the action of (a film, story, etc.) to happen in a certain place or during a certain time
1. The play is set in Verona, Italy. [=the action of the play takes place in Verona]
2. The novel is set in 1943.
3. a novel set during World War II
4. The story is set against (the backdrop of) the Second World War. [=the story takes place during the Second World War]
• to make (something) ready to be used
1. He turned off the car and set the parking brake.
2. Rangers will set a trap to catch the bear.
• to put plates, forks, spoons, knives, etc., on a table before serving a meal
1. Would you please set [=(Brit) lay] the table?
2. We set an extra place at the table for our guest.
3. The table was set for two. [=it had two place settings]
• to cause (a clock) to show a particular time
1. We set the clocks ahead one hour for daylight saving time.
2. The alarm was set for 7:00 a.m. = The alarm was set to go off at 7:00 a.m.
3. I set the timer for/to twenty minutes.
4. Set the oven to 350 degrees.
5. In the winter, she sets the thermostat at/to 68 degrees.
• to decide on or choose (something)
1. I set a goal (for myself) to lose 15 pounds by the end of the year.
2. The company must meet certain conditions set by the government in order to stay in business.
3. She will be setting the agenda for this afternoon's meeting.
4. setting boundaries/limits/rules
5. NASA has not yet set [=named] the date for the shuttle launch.
6. He has set his sights on becoming [=he has decided to try to become] the next president.
7. We don't have enough time to do everything. We have to set priorities. [=to decide which things are most important to do]
• to give (a particular price or value) to something
1. An antiques appraiser set the value of the chair at $500.
2. If you set your prices too high, no one will buy your products.
3. Her bail was set at $10,000. = The judge set (her) bail at $10,000. [=the judge decided that she will have to pay $10,000 or stay in jail until her trial]
• to give (a high value or importance) to something
1. They set a high value on their privacy. [=they value their privacy very highly]
2. Our family sets great store by/on tradition. [=our family believes that tradition is very important]
• to cause (something) to be accepted as an example, rule, etc.
1. They are improving the safety of their vehicles and setting a higher standard for other companies (to follow).
2. His style of directing has set a new trend in moviemaking. [=other directors are copying his way of making movies]
3. His behavior sets a good/bad example for the rest of the children.
4. The ruling is likely to set a precedent for how future cases are decided. [=future cases will be decided based on this case]
5. Her lighthearted question set the tone for the rest of the interview. [=it gave the rest of the interview a light and easy feeling]
• to establish (a record) as the performance or achievement that is the best of its kind
1. She set a record for the most sales in the company's history. [=she made more sales for the company than anyone else ever had]
2. He set the world record for/in the 100-meter dash.
• to cause (someone or something) to be in a specified condition
1. The slaves were set free.
2. He made a raft and set it afloat in the river.
3. They set the house on fire. = They set fire to the house. = (more formally) They set the house afire/aflame/ablaze. [=they caused the house to begin burning]
4. I wish I knew how to set your mind at ease. [=to help you stop worrying]
5. She set him right/straight about what happened. [=she told him that he was wrong and explained what really happened]
6. We should set our own house in order [=correct the way we do things] before we criticize them.
• to cause (someone or something) to start doing something
1. We have no idea what set [=got] her crying.
2. Her question set me to wondering if I had made the right decision.
3. They are ready to set the plan in motion. [=they are ready to cause the plan to start happening]
4. The plan has been set in motion.
5. Sources say that the governor has set the wheels in motion for a run for the presidency. [=the governor has started to run for president]
6. He immediately set to work [=started working] on the project.
• to give (someone) a particular job
1. My boss set me to organizing the files.
2. She set [=assigned] her students the task of writing a three-page report.
3. setting homework for the children
• to move down in the sky and go below the horizon
1. We sat on the beach and watched the sun set.
• to put and hold (your jaw, mouth, etc.) firmly into a certain position
1. She crossed her arms, set her jaw, and refused to answer any questions.
2. He set his lips firmly.
• to become thick or hard
1. The gelatin needs a few hours to set.
2. My nail polish is still setting.
3. a quick-setting cement
• to become permanent
1. If you don't wash your shirt right away, the stain will set. [=you will not be able to remove the stain]
2. Hot water will set the stain.
• to put (a broken bone) into its normal position so it can heal
1. Doctors set her broken leg last week.
2. The bones will take several weeks to set. [=grow together]
• to give a particular style to (someone's hair) by wetting it, putting it in curlers or clips, and drying it
1. She gets her hair set and styled twice a week.
• to type or print (a word, sentence, etc.) in a particular form or style
1. a word set in italics
• to add music to (words)
1. She wrote the lyrics, and he set them to music.
• to begin to do (something)
1. They set about (the task of) creating a new Web site.
2. They set about to create a new Web site.
• to compare (something) to (something else)
1. Let's set the advantages against the disadvantages.
2. The challenges of fixing the problem now must be set against the dangers of waiting until later to act.
3. The fines were small when set against the company's huge annual profits.
• to list (something) as an expense in order to reduce (income for which you must pay tax)
1. You can set your mortgage payments against your rental income.
• to decide that you do not support (something or someone)
1. She set herself against the prevailing beliefs of the time.
2. He has set himself against (joining) them.
• to cause (someone) to disagree with or oppose (someone)
1. The incident set brother against sister.
• to be a quality that makes (someone or something) better than or different from other people or things
1. What sets her apart (from the other teachers) is her great passion for her work.
2. His great height set him apart from the other men in his family.
• to keep or save (something) for a particular purpose
1. A few acres of the city were set apart for a park.
• to move (something) to the side because you are not working on it, dealing with it, etc.
1. Mix the dry ingredients in a small bowl and set the mixture aside.
2. I've set your memo aside for now but I'll read it this afternoon.
3. The committee set aside discussion of the proposal until their next meeting.
• to stop thinking about, talking about, or being affected by (something)
1. They decided to set aside their differences and work together.
2. Setting aside the fact that the meal was extremely expensive, dinner was very enjoyable.
• to change or reverse (a legal decision, conviction, etc.)
1. The verdict was set aside [=overturned] by the court.
• to make the progress of (something or someone) slower or more difficult
1. A recent lack of funding has set back research on the disease.
2. If the law is reversed, it will set us back 20 years. [=it will undo 20 years of progress]
3. setting back progress
• to create or establish (a rule, requirement, etc.)
1. All participants must follow the guidelines set down [=established] by the organization.
2. Once she sets down the rules, there's no changing her mind.
• to record (something) by writing it down
1. She took out her notebook and started setting down her thoughts.
2. When an idea for a song comes to me, I set it down on paper.
3. setting an agreement down in writing
• to land (an airplane) on the ground or water
1. We had to set the plane down in a field.
• to allow (someone) to get off a bus, airplane, etc.
1. I asked the taxi driver to set me down [=drop me off, (US) let me off] in front of the library.
• to begin a journey
1. We will set forth [=set out] at dawn.
• to explain or describe (something) in an organized way
1. The author sets forth [=states] the book's premise in its first two pages.
• to explain or describe (something) so that it can be considered
1. She has set forward [=presented] an ambitious plan to fix the nation's health-care system.
• to begin to be present, seen, etc.
1. The kids should go outside and play before the rain sets in again.
2. An infection set in after the surgery.
3. Reality was starting to set in. [=become obvious] We were not going to win.
• to begin traveling
1. We set off for home.
2. They set off in a different direction.
3. In the first chapter, the hero sets off on a long voyage across the ocean.
• to cause (something) to start or happen
1. set off an explosion
2. Her comments set off [=touched off] a chain of events that led to two people losing their jobs.
3. The incident set off a debate about how public land should be used.
• to cause (something) to begin making noise
1. The thick smoke set off the school's fire alarms.
2. Your watch will probably set the metal detectors off.
• to cause (fireworks, a bomb, etc.) to explode
1. They were accused of setting off the bomb that destroyed the building.
2. It was set off by remote control.
• to make (something) easy to see or notice
1. The blue in your sweater sets off [=accents] your eyes.
2. Bright yellow police tape set off the area where the crime occurred.
3. a quote set off by quotation marks
• to cause (someone) to suddenly start yelling, crying, laughing, etc.
1. I wonder what set her off.
• to make (a person or animal) suddenly attack (someone)
1. Police dogs were set on the protesters.
2. She set her friends on him.
• to begin traveling in a particular direction
1. We got out of the car and set out for the nearest gas station.
2. They set out toward the east.
• to start doing something
1. She set out with the goal of going to the Olympics.
2. She accomplishes whatever she sets out [=intends] to do.
3. I never set out to hurt you. [=I was not trying to hurt you]
4. He set out to become a lawyer but ended up teaching history instead.
• to explain or describe (something)
1. In the article, the group sets out the role of parents in a child's education.
2. He set out the basic argument between the two groups.
• to move and organize (a group of things) so that they can be seen or used
1. We'll need to set a few extra chairs out for our guests.
2. They set out maps and travel brochures for the tourists to take.
• to begin doing something in an active and serious way
1. We set to and soon finished the work.
• to prepare for something by putting things where they need to be
1. We have one hour left to set up for the party.
2. We had better start setting up.
• to create or establish (something) for a particular purpose
1. A panel needs to be set up to investigate the issue.
2. She hopes that in a few years she can set up a private practice of her own.
3. A foundation was set up for people with the disease.
4. The church set up a school for the city's homeless children.
5. The hikers set up camp [=they prepared an area where they could sleep outside] just before sunset.
• to arrange and plan (an event or activity)
1. I'll ask my secretary to set up a meeting with our clients.
2. Let's set up a time to get together.
3. He was the one who set up the bank robbery.
• to put (something) in an upright position
1. They set up flags along the street for the parade.
2. Help me set the tent up.
• to make (a machine, system, etc.) ready to be used
1. They set up the movie camera next to the door.
2. This computer wasn't set up to run so many programs at one time.
• to cause (someone) to be in a bad situation or to appear guilty
1. Those aren't his drugs. Someone must have set him up! [=framed him; made it look like the drugs were his]
2. He claimed he was set up by the police.
• to help (someone) feel healthy and full of energy
1. She says that daily exercise has set her up to face the challenges of getting old.
• to give (someone) a job, a place to live, etc.
1. She set me up in a great apartment in the city.
2. He set his son up with a job at his company.
• to do something that makes it likely or possible for (someone) to do, get, or experience something
1. The team's excellent defense set them up to score the winning touchdown.
2. I think you're just setting yourself up for a big disappointment. [=you're expecting something that won't happen and you will be disappointed when it doesn't]
• to cause (someone) to meet someone in order to start a romantic relationship
1. “How did you first meet your husband?” “My best friend set us up.”
2. She wants to set him up with her sister.
• to try to make people believe that you are (something)
1. She has set herself up as the best alternative to the current administration.
2. He sets himself up as a defender of the people, but he's really only interested in getting more power.
• to start your own business
1. She set (herself) up as a wedding planner. [=she began working as a wedding planner]
2. He set up in business after finishing college.
• to attack (someone or something)
1. The protesters were set upon by police dogs.
• Noun
• a group of similar things that belong together
1. an extra set of keys
2. There were two sets of footprints leading to the door.
3. Her parents bought her a complete set of Shakespeare. [=all of the poems and plays written by Shakespeare]
4. a set of instructions
5. a complex set of emotions/ideas
• a group of things that are used together
1. I need to buy a new set of golf clubs.
2. a set of dishes
3. a chess set
4. an electric train set
5. a dining (room) set [=a group of furniture for a dining room]
• a piece of electronic equipment
1. a radio/stereo set
2. a television set = (US) a TV set
3. The kids are allowed to watch two hours of television. After that, I turn off the set.
• a place where a movie or television program is filmed or a play is performed
1. We met on the set of Hamlet.
2. The actors got along well both on and off the set. [=while they were performing and while they were not]
3. Quiet on the set!
• the rooms, painted backgrounds, furniture, etc., that are used for a scene in a movie, television program, or play
1. elaborate stage sets
2. a set designer
• one of the parts into which a tennis or volleyball match is divided
1. He won a five-set match by three sets to two.
• a group of songs or pieces that a musician or band performs at a concert
1. Her band opened the show with a 30-minute set.
• a group of people who have similar interests or characteristics
1. His music has become especially popular with the college set. [=with college students]
2. the younger set
3. the town's wealthy horsey set [=people who are interested in riding horses]
• a group of students who perform at the same level in a particular subject
1. She's in the top set for science.
• a group of numbers, points, etc.
1. the set of positive integers
2. a finite set of points
• the number of times that you perform a group of repeated movements when you exercise
1. He did 3 sets of 12 push-ups.
• the way you move or hold your body, shoulders, etc.
1. The set of her shoulders suggested confidence and strength.
2. the firm set of his jaw
• a small bulb that you use to grow a new plant
1. onion sets
• having a particular position or location
1. Her college is set in the countryside.
2. Their house is set back from the road.
3. a man with deep-set eyes
• particular and not changing
1. All the cars on our lot have a set [=fixed] price.
2. All contestants must write a 200-word essay on a set subject.
3. Schools must be in session a set number of days each year.
4. The office is open at set hours during the week.
5. (Brit) The book is now a set book/text [=a book that students must read] in schools.
6. (chiefly Brit) The restaurant has a very good set menu. [=a menu with items that cannot be changed]
• not likely to change
1. She has very set ideas about how children should behave.
2. We're both getting older and more set in our ways. [=more unwilling to change the way we do or think about things]
• in a firm position that does not move or change
1. He stared at me with angry eyes and a set jaw.
2. a set smile
3. a crowd of set faces
• ready or prepared for something
1. Is everyone set to go?
2. We're all set.
3. She's all set for an early-morning start.
4. If we win the lottery, we'll be set for life. [=we will have everything we need for the rest of our lives]
• scheduled or supposed to happen at a certain time
1. Your package is set [=slated] for delivery on the 11th.
2. Her trial is set for October.
3. The album is set for an early March release.
4. The album is set to be released in early March.
5. The game is set to begin at 6:00.
• to feel strongly that you do not want (something) or will not do (something)
1. Everyone was set against going.
2. He was dead set against the deal. [=he was very strongly opposed to the deal]
• to feel strongly that you want (something) or will do (something)
1. She has been set on becoming a doctor since she was a child.
2. I'm not completely set on red for this room.